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🇩🇪German Source WordCode: DE

dunkles Pferd

Pronunciation / Transliteration: dunk-les pferd

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Dark horse/ˈdɑːrk hɔːrs/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #4500 frequency
Full Thesaurus
🇩🇪 Example Sentence in German:

"Der Kandidat war ein dunkles Pferd in der Wahl."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly succeeds.

    "In the election, the dark horse candidate surprised everyone by winning the majority of votes."
  2. 2

    A person or thing that is not well known but has the potential to succeed.

    "The startup was considered a dark horse in the tech industry, quickly gaining traction against established companies."
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Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Originating in 19th-century turf horse racing, the term originally referred to a horse about which little was known, making it difficult for gamblers to bet on its chances. Over time, the phrase transitioned from literal racing jargon into a broader political and cultural metaphor describing an unexpected contender who unexpectedly wins or achieves prominence.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

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Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Dark horse"

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